Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle Review: a real upgrade, but not magic

I’ve been using the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle for a few weeks, coming from an original launch Switch 1 that’s pretty beat up at this point. So this isn’t some unboxing honeymoon, it’s more “does this actually feel better day to day, or is it just nicer marketing text on the box?”. I mostly play in handheld on the couch or in bed, and then docked on weekends for Mario Kart nights with friends.

Right away, what hit me was the screen and performance combo. The 7.9" 1080p screen makes the old Switch look dated, and the system just loads stuff way faster. Games like Mario Kart World and a couple of heavier third‑party titles feel much smoother, both in menus and races. It’s not on the level of a high‑end PC or PS5, obviously, but compared to the first Switch, it’s a big step up in practice.

The bundle itself is pretty straightforward: console, Joy‑Con 2 controllers, dock, and a full game download for Mario Kart World (no cartridge). If you’re used to physical games, that might annoy you a bit, but at least it’s ready to go once downloaded. I set it up, grabbed a drink, and by the time I was back, the game was mostly done installing over my home Wi‑Fi.

Overall, my first impression was: this is clearly a better Switch, not some totally new concept. If you liked the idea of the original but got annoyed by slow loading, weak dock output, or Joy‑Con drift, this feels like Nintendo finally fixing most of that. It’s not perfect, and there are some trade‑offs, but it actually changes how pleasant it is to use the thing every day.

On the value side, this bundle sits in that zone where it’s not cheap, but you do get a lot of console for the money. You’re getting the Switch 2 (with 256 GB storage), the updated dock with 4K support, Joy‑Con 2 controllers, and a full download of Mario Kart World, which is basically the default party game for most households. If you were going to buy the console and Mario Kart anyway, the bundle makes sense.

Where it gets more debatable is if you’re not a big Mario Kart fan, or you already have a strong Switch 1 setup. If your old Switch is still running fine, battery is okay, and you mostly play in docked 1080p, the upgrade is more of a “nice to have” than a necessity. You’ll notice the faster loading and better graphics, sure, but it’s not like your old games suddenly become unplayable. For someone totally new to Nintendo, though, this is a pretty solid entry point.

One thing to keep in mind: the console basically nudges you towards extra spending. That 256 GB fills up quickly if you go digital, and the microSD Express cards that take full advantage of the faster storage aren’t cheap yet. Add maybe a screen protector, maybe a case, and maybe a Pro Controller if you hate Joy‑Cons for long sessions, and the total bill creeps up. So the bundle is good value on paper, but real‑world cost is higher than just the sticker price.

Overall, I’d say the value is good but not mind‑blowing. If you’re upgrading from a dying Switch 1 or you skipped the first Switch entirely, this is a sensible buy, especially with Mario Kart World included. If your current Switch still does the job and money is tight, you can honestly wait. Nintendo will keep revising hardware like they always do, and the real selling point will always be the games, not the plastic box they run on.

Design‑wise, the Switch 2 feels like Nintendo finally admitted people use this thing a lot and made it sturdier and more “device‑like” instead of toy‑like. The console is a bit chunkier than the original, but in a good way. The 7.9" LCD screen with HDR support and up to 120 fps looks clean, the bezels are slimmer, and the whole front is basically screen. Compared to my scratched Switch 1, it’s night and day.

The Joy‑Con 2 controllers are where I noticed the biggest change. They now attach with magnetic connectors, which sounds like a gimmick, but in use it’s just nicer. On my old Switch 1, the rail locks were worn out, and the Joy‑Cons felt wobbly. Here, they snap into place firmly, no rattling, no weird clicking noises. I haven’t had them pop off accidentally once. They also feel a bit more ergonomic in the hand, especially in handheld mode. The buttons have a slightly firmer click, and the sticks feel tighter. If Nintendo has really solved the drift issue, that alone is a big win.

The dock is more low‑key in design than before. It’s clearly built with 4K output in mind, so it looks more like a small media box than a toy. Ports are where you expect them, and setup is idiot‑proof: HDMI to TV, power to wall, drop the console in, done. I didn’t have to fight with it to get a signal like I sometimes did with the first dock. It also seems to hold the console a bit more securely, which I appreciate when kids are around.

One nice but slightly odd design choice: each Joy‑Con 2 can act as a mouse in compatible games. In practice, it’s more of a bonus than a core feature. I tried it in a couple of menu‑heavy games and it worked, but it’s not replacing a real mouse anytime soon. Feels like Nintendo experimenting a bit without going all‑in. Overall, the design feels more thought‑out and less fragile than the original Switch. It’s still plastic and still portable, so don’t expect tank‑like build, but it finally feels like something built for daily use, not just careful weekend gaming.

If there’s one area where the Switch 2 feels a bit half‑baked, it’s battery life. You can tell Nintendo pushed the performance and screen hard, and the battery just kind of had to keep up. Coming from a tired launch Switch 1, at first I thought it was better, but after a few long sessions it’s clear: this thing drains fast when you’re pushing it.

Playing Mario Kart World in handheld mode at higher brightness and 60+ fps, I was usually getting somewhere between 3 to 4 hours before needing to plug in. If I lowered brightness and played lighter games, I could stretch it more, but compared to the Switch Lite or the OLED model of the first gen, this feels like a step back. One Amazon reviewer even called the battery “abysmal” compared to those, and I get where they’re coming from.

Docked, obviously, this doesn’t matter, but the whole point of a Switch is that you can take it around. I found myself grabbing a USB‑C power bank again for longer trips, just like I did with the old Switch, which is a bit disappointing for a new generation. It’s usable, but you’re not going to forget it’s a portable device with a hungry screen and more powerful guts.

The good news: it doesn’t seem to heat up like crazy, and I haven’t seen any scary battery swelling like some people reported on long‑term Switch 1 units—at least not yet. But realistically, if you do a lot of commuting or travel gaming, expect to either play with settings (brightness, frame rate when possible) or carry a charger. It’s good enough, but definitely not a strong point of this console, and I fully expect Nintendo to release a “revised” or “Pro” version down the line with slightly better battery, like they always do.

Durability is a touchy topic with Nintendo lately, especially if you owned a launch Switch 1 with Joy‑Con drift, loose rails, and in some cases swollen batteries. I’m not going to pretend I’ve had this Switch 2 for years, but after a few weeks of daily use, I can at least say it feels more solid than my old one ever did, even when that one was new.

The Joy‑Con 2 rails and magnetic attachment feel tighter and less fragile. On my Switch 1, after a couple years, the Joy‑Cons would wobble and even slide a bit if I gripped too hard. Here, everything stays put. There’s no play in the connection, and detaching them is smooth without feeling like you’re going to snap something. Buttons and sticks also feel more robust, with a firmer click and less mush. Obviously, time will tell if drift is really gone, but so far so good.

The console body itself has a more solid, less hollow feel. It’s still plastic, but it doesn’t creak when you twist it a bit, and the kickstand (if you use it in Tabletop mode) feels less like it’s going to snap off. I’ve tossed it in a backpack a few times in a simple sleeve and it came out fine, no new scratches or weird marks. The screen is still not as scratch‑resistant as a phone with Gorilla Glass, so I’d still suggest a screen protector if you’re clumsy or share it with kids.

One thing I can’t judge yet is battery longevity. My original Switch 1’s battery went from decent to trash after a couple of years, and then started swelling. No sign of that here, but it’s new, so that doesn’t say much. Based on how it feels, I’d say the Switch 2 is built better than the first, but it’s not some rugged device. Treat it like a nice tablet with detachable controllers: fine for normal use, but don’t expect it to survive big drops or abuse. It’s an improvement, just not bulletproof.

On the performance side, this is where the Switch 2 actually justifies its existence. Compared to my Switch 1, games boot faster, loading screens are shorter, and frame rates are more stable. You feel it right away in Mario Kart World: menus are snappy, races load in quickly, and even with split‑screen the game holds up well. It finally feels closer to what you’d expect from a current console instead of something that was already underpowered when it launched.

Docked, the system can push up to 4K and 120 fps on supported TVs and games. Obviously, not every title is doing that, and Nintendo is still Nintendo when it comes to prioritizing art style over raw horsepower. But even older Switch 1 titles look cleaner and run smoother. One Amazon reviewer said it feels like playing a new game when you replay old titles, and I kind of agree. Games like Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild just feel less choppy and more stable overall.

Network performance is better too. Download speeds and online play feel more reliable. I had fewer random lag spikes in online Mario Kart races compared to the first Switch. It’s not perfect—Nintendo’s online service is still behind Xbox and PlayStation—but the latency feels improved, and I didn’t get booted from matches like before. You still need a decent connection on your side, obviously.

Then there’s GameChat. On paper, it sounds good: voice chat, screen sharing, and even video chat while you play. In practice, it’s… fine. It works, but it doesn’t feel fully baked yet. Pressing the C button on the right Joy‑Con 2 to start it is easy enough, but you can tell most games weren’t built around it yet. Audio is okay, not great, and it’s still more convenient for a lot of people to just hop on Discord on their phone. I see potential here, but right now it’s more of a nice option than a killer feature. Overall, performance is pretty solid and finally feels like a proper upgrade, especially if you’re coming from a launch Switch.

In the box, you get the Nintendo Switch 2 console, a pair of Joy‑Con 2 controllers, the updated dock that can push up to 4K/120 fps on supported TVs and games, power adapter, HDMI cable, and a download code for Mario Kart World, which is exclusive to Switch 2. No fancy extras, no steering wheel plastic or anything like that. It’s a pretty standard console bundle, just with a big first‑party game included.

The console itself comes with 256 GB of internal storage, which is more than the original Switch, but once you start downloading big games, it fills up faster than you think. Mario Kart World doesn’t eat the whole thing, but if you’re planning to add stuff like big third‑party games (Cyberpunk 2077 was mentioned in reviews), you’re basically pushed towards getting a microSD Express card. That’s another cost to keep in mind, and those faster cards aren’t cheap yet.

One detail that matters if you’re upgrading: the system still plays compatible physical and digital Switch 1 games, which is huge. I moved my account and library over and didn’t feel like I was “starting from zero.” Some games even run smoother without any patch, which is nice. Just note one of the user reviews was right: system transfer is a bit picky about power. You pretty much have to use the new AC adapter, and it nags you if you don’t. Slightly annoying, but it’s a one‑time thing.

Mario Kart World itself is exactly what you expect: same‑system multiplayer, local wireless, and online. It’s clearly the “family and friends” showpiece for this hardware. If you’re buying the Switch 2 mainly for solo RPGs or indie games, the bundle still makes sense, but you’re basically paying for a game that shines more in multiplayer sessions. For me, it was fine because we actually play Mario Kart regularly, but if you hate racing games, I’d maybe look for a bare console or different bundle.